Hearing loss is the most prevalent sensory disorder and affects about 1 in 1,000 newborns. Genetic causes are estimated to cause about half of the congenital hearing loss. Hearing loss can be rehabilitated by hearing aids or implantable hearing devices but a cure is currently not available. However, recently many start-up companies have emerged to work on the development of inner ear therapies treating hearing loss and tinnitus with hair cell regeneration, stem cell therapy, genetic therapy or other molecular inner ear therapies. Hearing & Genes, a collaboration of the Ear-Nose-Throat and Genetics Departments of the Radboud university medical center, wants to evaluate these novel molecular therapies by performing clinical trials in close collaboration with these companies and the Radboud Technology Center for Clinical Studies.

A highly motivated postdoc is searched to recruit and organise clinical trials to treat inner ear disorders and to perform natural history studies that evaluate progression of hereditary hearing loss and deafblindness. The postdoc will also be involved in the supervision of PhD students and is expected to write grant proposals. After three years, the postdoc has to be able to sustain his/her position with obtained grants. Experience with the organisation of trials, writing grant proposals and supervision of PhD students is a bonus.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Performing and organising clinical trials;
• Writing research grant proposals;
• Supervision of PhD students;
• Participation with patients and regional / national and international networks.

We are looking for an enthusiastic postdoc with a PhD in clinical epidemiology who is eager to work in a highly motivated team of researchers who want to cure hearing loss by bringing inner ear molecular therapies via clinical trials into society.

• Ambitious;
• Clinical-epidemiological background;
• Empathic and social;
• Strong analytical behaviour;
• Excellent writing skills (research grants proposals);
• Good coaching skills (supervision PhD students);
• Excellent collaborator;
• You recognise yourself in the Radboud way of working.

Upon commencement of employment we require a certificate of conduct (Verklaring Omtrent het Gedrag, VOG) and there will be a screening based on the provided CV. Radboud university medical center's HR Department will apply for this certificate on your behalf.

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Radboudumc

The expertisecenter Hearing & Genes is a collaboration between the Otorhinolanyngology and the Genetics Departments of the Radboud university medical center and one of the acknowledged expertise centers of Amalia children's hospital. Within Hearing & Genes, hearing impaired patients are screened to identify the (hereditary) cause of their hearing loss. The Hearing & Genes Laboratory conducts basic scientific studies to identify novel deafness genes and studies their function in the inner ear. In a multidisciplinary team, we also work on the development of genetic therapy for Usher syndrome (deafblindness) and non-syndromic types of sensorineural hearing loss (f.e. DFNA9). Hearing & Genes values patient-participation and through our close contacts with several patient organisations we aim to improve care for our patients and strive for a more permanent solution of hereditary hearing loss. Hearing & Genes has initiated a collaboration with the Radboudumc Technology Center for Clinical Studies to foster H&G-trials for inner ear molecular therapies in the upcoming years.

Novel medical therapies for (hereditary) hearing loss are currently being developed and will be introduced as clinical trials in the upcoming years. These novel treatments need careful evaluation and implementation and Hearing & Genes wants to play an international leading role in this development. Next to clinical trials, we also wants to conduct natural history studies to evaluate progression of hearing (and in Usher syndrome vision) loss as they will form the basis for future genetic therapy trials.

Radboudumc
Radboudumc strives to be a leading developer of sustainable, innovative and affordable healthcare to improve the health and wellbeing of people and society in the Netherlands and beyond. This is the core of our mission: To have a significant impact on healthcare. To get a better picture of what this entails, check out our strategy film.

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